Halfe is travelling as part of an entourage with Governor General Mary May Simon in Canada’s first state visit to Germany since 2001.
The trip includes stopovers in both Berlin and Frankfurt, where Simon will represent Canada at the 2021 Frankfurt Book Fair, which is featuring Canada as the guest of honour this year.
“Canada and Germany have long been allies and friends. A state visit highlights our shared values and strong ties, and also helps support Canadian industries that have been hard hit during this pandemic,” Rideau Hall said in a statement.
Appointed as Parliamentary Poet Laureate in 2021, Halfe’s duties include writing compositions for special occasions, sponsoring readings, advising the Parliamentary Librarian and performing related duties at the request of the Speaker of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Halfe is the ninth poet to hold the position and the first to hail from an Indigenous community. Read more on Halfe’s appointment as Parliamentary Poet Laureate.